New Gemini rules reduce categories, expand voting

From a media release:

New Gemini Rules expand voting

“The rules and regulations for the 27th Annual Gemini Awards have been revised to reflect the new market reality for Canadian television and digital media,” it was announced today by Martin Katz, Chair of the Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television.

Following extensive industry consultations and deliberations by the two new Gemini Award Governance Committees for television and digital media—and approval of the ACCT Board—the number of eligible Gemini Award categories has been reduced by 20% through the merging or elimination of categories and the creation of two new ones.

In recent years, the number of international co‐productions on Canadian television has been growing. With the introduction of this new category—Best International Drama—series such as The Borgias will compete directly with mini‐series such as The Pillars of the Earth, for example, which is fitting,” Katz explained.

The price for submission of Digital Media Original Content categories has also been reduced from $350.00 to $100.00 in keeping with the market reality for Canadian creators at the vanguard of the Digital Media revolution.

“Feedback from Academy Members in this growing segment of our industry made it clear that submission fees were out of scale with digital production and promotion budgets. Since we want to encourage participation in the Digital Media Original Content categories, we adjusted the price to reflect that market reality,” explained Katz.

‘Vote Weighting’ for eligible television programs has also changed. Effective immediately, a new 50/50 split between Gemini Awards Jury votes and ACCT Members votes takes effect. “Changing the ‘vote weighting’ to a 50/50 Jury/Academy Members split is a major evolution in our voting procedures. A consensus among the new TV Gemini Awards Governance Committee and the new Board was easily reached placing more weight with Member ballots in deciding who the Gemini goes to,” Katz explained.

In addition, Academy Members in the TV and Digital divisions will now be eligible to vote in ALL Gemini Award categories. “This voting expansion allows Academy Members the opportunity to vote in every single category,” says Katz.

27th Annual Gemini Awards will take place in Toronto: Industry Gala #1 Tues. Aug. 28; Industry Gala #2 Wed. Aug. 29; and Broadcast Gala Wed. Sept. 5 2012.